Osteospermum plant named ‘Trad Purbilor’

ABSTRACT

An  Osteospermum  cultivar particularly distinguished by purple and white inflorescences, an upright and medium-sized plant habit, and a freely branching and vigorous growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘Trad Purbilor’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Trad Purbilor’. The newcultivar originated from a hybridization made in June 1999. The femaleparent was the proprietary ‘OY-85-6’ (unpatented) Osteospermum plant,with light purple inflorescences, while the male parent was theproprietary ‘OY-81-2’ (unpatented) Osteospermum plant, with purpleinflorescences. The seeds produced by the hybridization were sown inAugust 2003. A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluationand for asexual propagation in January 2004.

The new cultivar was created in 1999 in Andijk, The Netherlands, and hasbeen asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissueculture in Andijk, The Netherlands, Gilroy, Calif. and Hillscheid,Germany over a 2 and a half year period. The present invention has beenfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have been applied for in Canadaon Mar. 21, 2006 and in Switzerland on Nov. 13, 2006.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Gilroy, Calif., Andijk, The Netherlands andHillscheid, Germany.

-   -   1. Purple and white inflorescences;    -   2. An upright and medium-sized plant habit; and    -   3. A freely branching and vigorous growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show overall plant habit including inflorescences,buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of a 12-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse inHillscheid, Germany in May 2006.

FIG. 2 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, maturefoliage, and the mature inflorescences of a 20-week old plant, grown inFrance in August 2006.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Trad Purbilor’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inHillscheid, Germany. The plant history was taken on 12-week-old plants,grown in 4-inch pots in a greenhouse during the early spring. The plantshad one plant growth regulator treatment and one terminal pinch early inthe trial. Color readings were taken under natural light in thegreenhouse in March. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).Texture description data was viewed with a dissecting microscope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.        -   Common name.—African daisy.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary ‘OY-85-6’ (unpatented)            Osteospermum plant having light purple inflorescences.        -   Male parent.—The proprietary ‘OY-81-2’ (unpatented)            Osteospermum plant having purple inflorescences.-   Plant:    -   -   Form and Habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated            as an annual; upright and medium sized.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorously growing, freely            branching habit.        -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescences).—15.0 cm            to 17.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescences).—20.0 cm to 23.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—12 to 14 weeks            for a 12-cm pot.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Herbaceous, grown as a perennial            for patio planters; used in mixed container planting or            garden beds.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—24 to 27 days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, white.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Oldest, obovate to rhomboid and elliptic-spatulate at            the mid-stem.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture.—Leathery, glossy and pilose along the margins and            lower surface.        -   Fragrance.—Sharp and spicy.        -   Immature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137D to RHS 143A.            Lower surface: RHS 143A to RHS 144A.        -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface:            Between RHS 137C to RHS 137D.        -   Length.—5.2 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Width.—3.3 cm to 3.6 cm.        -   Petioles.—Length: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm. Color            (both sides): RHS 145B. Texture: Pilose on the side margins.        -   Venation.—Pinnate. Color: RHS 145A.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches.—5 to 8.        -   Length.—9.0 cm to 14.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.0 cm to 5.0 cm at midpoint.        -   Internode length.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—Between RHS 143B and RHS 143C.        -   Texture.—Pilose.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Inflorescence buds:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Diameter (horizontal).—0.8 cm.        -   Length.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Color (just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS 187B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Capitulum inflorescence, radially symmetrical;            terminal and axillary inflorescences held above the foliage.        -   Blooming habit.—Plants flower continuously from spring            through fall given the proper growing conditions.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—20 to 30.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—11 to 14            days.        -   Fragrance.—Mild (in contrast to the leaves).        -   Inflorescence diameter.—5.8 cm to 6.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—0.8 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—1.2 cm.-   Disc floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—40 to 50.        -   Shape.—Tube-shaped, while the upper end is 5-lobed.        -   Tube color (immature).—RHS N88B.        -   Tube color (mature).—RHS N79D.        -   Length.—0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—0.2 cm to 0.25 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Apex color.—RHS 83A.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—19 to 23.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 72D. Lower surface: RHS            77B with a hint of RHS N77A veins. Mature: Upper surface:            RHS 76D base color; RHS N78C to RHS N78D towards the apex;            RHS N78B basally. Lower surface: RHS 77B with slight stripes            of both RHS N77C and RHS N77B, somewhat fading with            maturity.        -   Length.—2.8 cm to 3.1 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm to 0.85 cm.        -   Apex.—Rounded to obtuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Papillose and hirsute on the basal margin portions.        -   Peduncle.—Length (from the topmost leaflet): 3.4 cm to            6.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Texture: Pilose. Color: RHS 144C            to RHS 145A.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorls at the lower part of the ray florets.        -   Observed quantity per plant.—14 to 16.        -   Shape.—Ligulate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A to RHS 137B; RHS 137C to RHS            137D at the apex; margins are semi-transparent. Lower            surface: RHS 138A.        -   Length.—0.9 cm to 1.1 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm to 0.15 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pilose.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Present on disc florets only. Stamen            quantity: One per disc floret. Stamen color: RHS N78D.            Pollen color: RHS 21A. Pollen amount: Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Present on ray florets only. Number:            One per floret. Pistil length: 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm. Stigma            color: Closest to RHS N79A. Style color: Closest to RHS            N77B. Style length: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.-   Fruit and seed set: Seed set not observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Typical of the species; no special    observations made.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Trad Purbilor’ differs from the female parent ‘OY-85-6’ (unpatented) inthat ‘Trad Purbilor’ has purple and white inflorescences, while‘OY-85-6’ has light purple inflorescences. Additionally, ‘Trad Purbilor’has a more compact plant habit and more branching than ‘OY-85-6’.

‘Trad Purbilor’ differs from the male parent ‘OY-81-2’ (unpatented) inthat ‘Trad Purbilor’ has purple and white inflorescences, while‘OY-81-2’ has purple inflorescences. Additionally, ‘Trad Purbilor’ has amore compact plant habit and more branching than ‘OY-81-2’.

‘Trad Purbilor’ differs from commercial cultivar ‘Westside’ (unpatented)in that ‘Trad Purbilor’ is earlier to flower and has a more purpleinflorescence than ‘Westside’. Additionally, ‘Trad Purbilor’ has a morecompact plant habit and has shorter peduncles than ‘Westside’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant as shown and described herein. 